saveeumundi.org

Posted by Miket from Ridgewood – on 8 April, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.

We are directly affected by this proposal by Powerlink.

We are insulted to read Simon Bartlett’s claims “small number of landowners likely to be affected by new easements would receive compensation to reflect any impact on the value of their properties”.

Properties across the fence and within 100m of the imposing 45m+ towers and lines will not get any compensation. This is fact as stated in Powerlink’s reference statements. This is due to the outdated 1967 Land Acquisition Act.

There are 27 homes affected by the transmission lines crossing the land, while there are over 50 houses having to look at the ugly infrustructure (sic).

Collectively the entire corridor is already realising property value losses and hardship. People are disillusioned by the State Government’s reluctance to show credible climate change initiatives and put a halt to this project pending an environmental impact study.

Please contact me at any time for further comment. Regards, Mike & Family

Posted by Clarity from Eumundi – on 10 April, 2008 at 2:15 p.m.

I am a Noosa Hinterland resident and because the extra high voltage transmission lines that Powerlink are proposing are not going through our property, we are still directly affected. We will not only be living with ongoing visual pollution but we will be exposed to significant environmental pollution. Our children will no longer be able to play near the area and it will not be permitted to fly their kites anywhere near the area.

How does Powerlink and the State Government of Queensland propose to compensate for the substantial lowering of property values in the area? How will they compensate for potential illnesses that families may get as a result of the inadequate scientific research done by Powerlink employees?

How will they compensate the environment by removing trees and natural habitat to build high voltage transmission lines through an area that is of high conservation value? How will they compensate our lifestyle? How will they compensate the feelings of violation which we are all experiencing? We moved to this area because of the natural beauty and because there were no power lines in sight. When our solicitor did an easement search for future potential lines, they do not exist. Yes, we all agree with the Noosa News. “It’s revolting.”

Posted by NATBER from Cooroy – on 10 April, 2008 at 2:26 p.m.

“Small number of landowners” in Powerlink’s eyes is a whole community from our understanding. All families in our community will be adversely affected by the high voltage transmission lines, not only on a monetary level but the whole proposal has already affected our physical, emotional and mental well being.

Posted by Ogers from Ridgewood – on 10 April, 2008 at 3:11 p.m.

“….finalise the alignment to provide certainty to land owners.” Really Mr Bartlett. The only certainty we can think of, is that if the high voltage transmission lines go ahead my whole family will be at risk of the illnesses that researchers constantly speak of. The other certainty relates to what all real estate agents tell us and that is that the value of our properties will go down substantially. It is a known fact that when people look to buy properties these days they don’t even consider a property when there are high voltage lines even in sight.

Mr Bartlett I would suggest you show some sensitivity in future, as we are all suffering in some way from this Powerlink imposition.

Posted by Platypus from Ridgewood – on 10 April, 2008 at 4:03 p.m.

The Leukaemia Foundation of Australia acknowledges and supports a ‘prudent avoidance’ approach in relation to high-level EMF exposure.

What Powerlink and the State Government of Queensland are proposing is extra high-level EMF exposure (275KV).

The Leukaemia Foundation states that: “Since 1991 the Energy Supply Association of Australia (ESAA), the peak organisation for electrical companies in Australia, has adopted a policy of prudent avoidance in regard to high-level EMF exposure.

This involves taking exposure into consideration in the design and citing of new electrical facilities and avoiding where possible, and at a ‘moderate cost and minimum inconvenience’ homes, schools, playgrounds and ‘other locations frequented by children.’ Some individuals may choose to take some simple steps to reduce their EMF exposure on a daily basis. These could include: – avoiding spending any time near high voltage powerlines or mobile phone towers…”

With the recent high incidence of leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders to name a few, it would seem logical, properly and fittingly and morally appropriate not to further the hazard + exposure = risk.

There are alternatives and we will welcome the day when our governments put the health of the people and the environment as a number one priority.

This wondrous life is a blessing and to be exposed to these environmental pollutants can change the quality of our lives forever.

Posted by Kumish from Yandina – on 11 April, 2008 at 8:26 a.m.

Why is this power line even being considered when climate change has come to our attention from international sources? My family has made an effort to restrict carbon emissions in our day to day lives. Global warming is something we should all take seriously.

We have friends in that area and Powerlink say they will not be affected. I certainly would not like to be in their situation, being so close. They won’t be given any compensation. They have worked hard all their lives and paid taxes and now they are being bullied by the same government they paid taxes to. It doesn’t seem fair to me. Why don’t they respect us more?

Why don’t they move it along the highway like Jim Clooney suggested? It would seem that his logic is far more intelligent and humane than what Powerlink are proposing.

Posted by G_Smith from Cooroy – on 13 April, 2008 at 10:14 a.m.

Mr Bartlett is being disingenuous for all of the reasons stated above. In addition, he once again fails to come clean on the full extent of the project – this is running from Woolooga (North of Gympie) down to Eerwah Vale – some 70+ km, so Mr Bartlett there are many more directly and indirectly affected people and land owners. Over and above this, this project facilitates the production of a significant increase in greenhouse gases – contributing to Queensland being the carbon capital of Australia – About time the State Government took action to stop this unsustainable type of development!

Posted by jbritten from Eerwahvale – on 13 April, 2008 at 6:16 p.m.

How quickly can ones dreams and future be severely demolished. Powerlinks proposal of erecting high voltage powerlines in the Eerwah Vale district is sheer devastation, not only to its residents/landowners but to the natural habitat of so many and varied wildlife species. Many landowners have maintained and protected a wildlife corridor in this very region. How heartbreaking it would be to see an easement ripped through this unique valley alongside a known tourist drive, route 22.

There are known health risks and are being investigated continually. I worked on the petition booth for Powerlines Action Group Eumundi Inc., 99% of the public comments I encountered were “there the cause of cancer, I wouldn’t live near them!”

When you have a high level of perception it is inevitable you have huge property devaluations, not only on the directly affected properties but the whole region.

Our choice of lifestyle, living and working without powerlines have been taken away from us, all this without due compensation.

Listening to Jim Cooney has unleased a common sense approach to Powerlinks project, all we hope for is that his proposal does not fall on deaf ears. Not only on Powerlinks but the politicians of the day.

I would also like to acknowledge the P.A.G.E. Inc. group, they are informative and dedicated in supporting the residents/landowners, also the protection of environment.

Apparently there is some horror land acquisition stories. This outdated 1967 Land Acquisition Act surely must be addressed at a political level. I would interested along with, I believe many of your readers in putting it out there for readers to comment on.

Posted by Please_Listen from Cooroy – on 14 April, 2008 at 9:57 a.m.

We are two brothers and one little sister, and we have been inspired to write because it was National Youth Week 2008 from 5-13 April. We want to celebrate being alive and being young and healthy BUT we are worried and we want to express some things that are important to us. Yes, to make the most of every opportunity….we want to be heard.

We were at the public PAGE meeting that Mr Clooney spoke at and our family home is very close to the extra high voltage transmission lines that Powerlink want to build. There are lots of other youth and children in this area too. They say it is 70km from Woolooga to Eerwah Vale and it is not difficult to imagine how many other kids live along the way! And as National Youth Week promotes, we have decided to “shout out about the things that matter to us and for us to live our lives to the fullest”, we will write down our concerns relating to Powerlink and the State Government of Queensland.

1.We are concerned for the health and safety of all the other people that live in this area. Especially what the Leukemia Foundation warns us about.
2.We are concerned about the earth we live on…when this is gone there will not be another one to replace it. So what are the governments doing now that they have been warned about the dangers of climate change?
3.Why is this extra high voltage transmission line being proposed when there are alternatives to this dangerous form of power.
4.We are concerned that the State Government of Queensland and Powerlink are planning to remove lots of large trees and destroy natural habitat killing not only fauna and flora in this sensitive habitat, but putting at danger the risk of extinction of endangered species.
5.We are concerned that Powerlink will kill all the 1000′s of trees Landcare helped us plant.
6.We wonder if the employees of Powerlink and the members of the State and Federal Government have children and if they would like these power lines to run through their homes?

We don’t just want answers. We want the State Government of Queensland and the Federal Government of Australia to show they care and start cleaning up this earth before it is polluted any more.

Posted by Bergie from Ridgewood – on 14 April, 2008 at 12:17 p.m.

Is Powerlink and the State Government of Queensland blind or are they just greedy and insensitive?

Just drive along the whole Woolooga to Eerwah Vale area and you’ll see an abundance of The Land For Wildlife signs. Is this not an indication that the people who live here are passionate about their environment?

Powerlink are wasting excessive amounts of tax payers dollars on news media propaganda. Isn’t this supposed to be a democracy?

Powerlink is a QLD Government owned corporation that owns, develops, operates and generates its income from electricity transmission in Australia. Where is democracy when these government bodies ruthlessly, literally and physically bulldoze through high conservation areas, destroying properties and at the same time potentially putting our lives and healthy life situations at risk?

The outdated 1967 Land Acquisition act must be addressed immediately. Even though we purchased our property and spent years and years paying off our mortgages, under the Land Acquisition Act of 1967 the government can either take the land from us or “resume” a 60 metre wide corridor through our property with minimal compensation. Our neighbours will have to live with the Queensland Government monument of dangerous extra high voltage transmission lines which are a pollution in every sense of the word, running within metres of their properties. How could a Government department be proud of this?

I totally agree that Queensland will become the ‘Carbon Capital of Australia’ if the government continues their outdated and dangerous energy plans. With CLIMATE CHANGE being such a concern for the whole of this earth it would seem obvious that our money taken through taxation, can be used in much more sustainable ways. This is the Sunshine State. Let us keep it this way.